Kathakali Pictures

Variety of Kathakali pictures are available on the websites. Kathakali gallery with pictures of Kathakali performances, various Kathakali characters in attires and other Kathakali accessories are available. Exclusive Kathakali pictures are downloading from the website. Kathakali pictures or images are very colorful and very attaractive. Children are very anxious to see the images of Kathakali.

The costumes used in Kathakali, is colorful and the face of the actor is painted up, make up is one of the most important part in Kathakali, and there are five types of make ups, pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari and Minukku. The main accessories used by Kathakali performers are kireetam or huge headgear and the kanchukam the over sized jackets, and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions.

The stories for attakatha are selected from epics and mythologies and are written in a highly samskritised verse form in Malayalam. It had it's origin in the courts of the kings of Kerala. It is considered to be a synthetic art form combining in itself, the rudiments of it's earlier forms like 'Krishnanathan 'and 'Ramanattam' with a highly classical dance.

The actor does not speak, but expresses himself through highly complicated and scientifically ordained murdias and steps, closely following the text being sung from the background of the stage. Once the complete make up is over it is quiet hard to identify the real person behind. The thick color paints made on the spot are directly applied on the face. It allows full expression of the face and eyes enabling the performer to portray different emotions.

But nearly a dozen of wooden antique masks of Hanuman, Angathan, Dakshan, and Mareechan, found in the Kaliyogam are the solid proof, for the practice of using. The Maharaja personally supervised the rehearsals, and the makings of Kathakali costumes, head dress, masks and other accessories them in Kathakali. Other striking accessories include the wooden doll and mulakollaram used in Santhanagopalm, and a conch used in Dakshyagam. The wooden conch is a tricky one.

Kathakali performances traditionally begin just after sunset and continuous all night through downs. As the Kathakali dancer does not speak any Kathakali padam, his vocabulary Kathakali padangal consists of only 'hustamudras' (stylised hand gestures) and facial gesture.